Method of packaging toy building elements and packaging for exercising the method

ABSTRACT

A method of packaging the toy building elements for a set for building a toy model in which the model is separated into definable sections. The elements for each section, including elements for interconnection to other sections are separately packaged, along with instructions for assembling the separate sections. Instructions are further provided for interconnecting the sections to form the desired model.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method of packaging toy building elements fortoy building sets for the construction of a toy model comprising anumber of associated model sections.

Usually, the building elements in a toy building set are packed in anumber of bags, where selection of the contents of each bag is based onthe criterion that the packaging machines should perform mostefficiently, usually in connection with a subsequent control weighing.When a child is to construct a model by means of the building set, allthe bags are opened and their contents discharged onto a support,following which relatively much of the time spent on building the modelis consumed in finding the right elements to be used in accordance withthe construction manual. Of course, this ‘unproductive’ work increaseswith increasing size of the relevant finished model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a novel method of packagingthe toy building elements for a toy building set, by which it issubstantially more expedient and easy to obtain an overall view of themany elements when the child sets out to build a toy model.

This object is obtained in that the elements are divided into a numberof sets corresponding to each their model section; and that the sets arekept apart by means of the packaging, e.g. in the form of the bag orboxes.

In accordance with the invention, a model can typically be divided into5-10 portions or sections, and the construction manual indicates whichportion is to be built first, and so on. The fact that the individualelements that belong to each their section of the model are packedseparately, makes it much more expedient and easier for the child totake in the many elements of which the model is composed. Not only willthe child experience that time is saved, but the method according to theinvention has shown that the child finds the building work lessover-whelming, and thus it has been found that the targeted age for agiven model can be lowered. It is a positive experience for the child tobe able to build a more complex model than it would usually be able to,in particular as a consequence of the substantially reduced time ofconcentration which means that the invention increases the pedagogicalvalue of the building set.

It is to be noted that, although the so-called ‘combined-packaging’methods are known where the building elements for e.g. four mutuallyindependent models are packed into each their compartment in a box, itwill be understood from the above explanation that the method of thepresent invention is not in any way related to combined-packaging.

A model section may constitute a separate model portion whereby thechild can obtain the finished model by inter-connecting the modelportions, but it is also an option that a model portion consists of aplurality of model sections that may, in accordance with the invention,be packed in each their bag, box or the like.

The model sections and the model portions may be classified inaccordance with various criteria. For instance, a visual effect can berelatively more significant to small children whereas a distinction inaccordance with the technical effect obtained is typically moresignificant to older children. Finally, the complexity of the modelsection can also play a part, in particular for the smaller children.

The construction manual may be subdivided, one manual for each modelsection, supplemented with a guide how to combine the model sections toaccomplish the large model, but it may also be explained in one singleconstruction manual that may be printed or otherwise communicated, e.g.by CD-ROM.

The invention also relates to a packaging for exercising the method.Thus, the method is intended for use in connection with a toy buildingset that comprises a number of different building elements that can beused for constructing a toy model by interconnecting the buildingelements. The effect described above is accomplished in that thepackaging comprises means configured for separately enclosing such setsof building elements; that these building sets enable the constructionof respective model sections of the toy model that can be accomplishedby the interconnection of said model sections.

Typically the packaging comprises plastics bags or boxes for keeping thebuilding elements apart in accordance with the invention.

The terms ‘packaging’ and ‘the division of elements into sets ofelements’ are to be understood in the widest sense of the words. Thus,it is possible today to build a model of toy elements on a computerscreen, where a number of building elements are available on the screen,following which one may, by means of the mouse, select a particularbuilding element and arrange it on the model being built. Thispresupposes a construction manual as well as a selection of buildingelements on the screen. It is within the scope of the present inventionto select an optimal range of building elements on the screen to enablethe children to be, on the one hand, forced to choose the right elementbut, on the other hand, to spare the children to have to look through avery large number of elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be explained in further detail in the descriptionthat follows of a number of embodiments known from the well-known toybuilding sets marketed under the registered trade mark LEGO®, wherein

FIG. 1 shows a finished model;

FIG. 2 shows a model section and the contents of a bag for building saidsection;

FIG. 3 shows the model which has been further enlarged by means ofelements from the bag 2 shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 shows the model which has been enlarged by means of the buildingelements contained in the bag 3 shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 shows the contents of a bag 4 used for completion of the modelsection shown in FIG. 4 to accomplish the finished model shown in FIG.1.

FIGS. 6-9 show model portions corresponding to a second embodiment;

FIG. 10 shows a section of the model portion of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a first use of the model portions shown inFIGS. 6-9;

FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a second use of the model portions shown inFIGS. 6-9;

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a third use of the model portions shown inFIGS. 6-9; and

FIG. 17 shows a packaging according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 shows a model of a fantasy vessel that can be difficult toconstruct for small children. It is the object of the invention to allowthat the targeted age can be lowered.

The building set can be sold in a usual manner in a box on the outsideof which the model is typically depicted. In the box there is a numberof compartments that may contain elements or may each contain one ormore bags holding elements, cf. the description of the prior art givenin the introductory part.

In accordance with the invention the contents of the different bags arematched with the construction manual whereby it is considerably moreeasy and expedient for the child to get an overall view of how the modelis to be built.

FIG. 2 illustrates a model section which can be built with the elementsshown at the bottom of FIG. 2 and which can be contained in a first bagof building elements. A swift glance into the contents of bag 1, incombination with the construction manual, will readily reveal how themodel section shown in FIG. 2 can be accomplished. The bag may beidentified by means of numbers, letters, colours, pictures and the like.

The model section of FIG. 2 can subsequently be enlarged to form thesection shown in FIG. 3 by means of the elements contained in a baglabelled bag 2 and shown at the bottom of FIG. 3. By means of theaccompanying construction manual it will appear where to position theelements of bag 2. It is to be noted that the elements that belong tobag 2 are not adequately shown in FIG. 3 that merely serves to impartthe principle understanding of how a bag 2 will allow you to enlarge arelatively complex constituent model in a easy and well-planned manner.

By means of bag No 2 it is not possible to build a model portion in theform of a separate unit, since the contents of bag No 2 presuppose thatthe model section shown in FIG. 2 can be used as a starting point. Thecontents of bag No 2 enable building of a section but not a separatemodel portion.

This is not the case with the contents of bag No 3, the most importantelements of which being shown in FIG. 4. On a shared building plate, aseparate model portion can be built that comprises a steering box and apassenger cabin. This assembled model portion comprising steering boxand passenger cabin can subsequently be mounted on the model portionshown in FIG. 3, and it that case bag No 3 is conveniently labelled witha picture of the steering box and the passenger cabin. Once the childhas reached the result shown in FIG. 4, it can readily finish the modelshown in FIG. 1 by means of the bag 4 shown in FIG. 5 (which, inpractice, contains more elements than shown—typically figures anddecorative elements).

Below, further embodiments will be described that provide, in additionto the above-mentioned advantages of the invention, further flexibilitywhen a model is divided into a plurality of functional parts, each ofwhich being packed in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate four different model portions having thefollowing functions:

the front portion of a vehicle (FIG. 6),

a motor (FIG. 7),

the rear portion of a vehicle (FIG. 8), and

an alternative front portion of a vehicle (FIG. 9).

Each of the model portions shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 can be built bymeans of elements that are packed in respective bags or separate boxeswhich are, in turns contained in the principal packaging of the toybuilding set. As described more detailed in connection with the firstembodiment, construction manuals are included to shown how the modelportions shown in FIGS. 6 through 9 are to be built. The separate bagsor boxes are, as described previously, clearly labelled to match theconstruction manual thereby allowing the child to quickly identify themodel portions as well as the associated individual elements.

Some of the model portion may—in order to further reduce the timeconsumed in searching for the elements—consist of a plurality ofsections. FIG. 10 illustrates how a subsection of model portion 6 maylook, and in correspondence with the previous explanation, the elementsbelonging to the subsection shown in FIG. 10 can be packed in a separatebag or box, and likewise the remaining elements for finishing the modelportion shown in FIG. 6 can be delivered in it respective bag or box.

The time saved and the flexibility are further enhanced in that themodel portions are divided as to functionality, as will be subject tomore detailed explanation with reference to the following figures.

FIG. 11 is a typical example of a picture from a construction manual andwhich shows how, by combining the model portions from FIGS. 7, 8, and 9,the child is able to assemble the model shown in FIG. 12 in a quickmanner and without difficulty.

FIG. 13 that can also be comprised in a construction manual shows howthe child can use the model portions 6, 7 and 8 to assemble the modelshown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 can be part of the construction manual and shows how, simply byturning the model portion 8 upside down and adding a few furtherelements, the child is able to modify the vehicle shown in FIG. 14 intothe vehicle shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 is an example of a packaging according to the invention. Thepackaging consists of portions that are known per se, viz a box 1 with alid and a number of compartments for containing the building elements.The compartments can be divided to contain separate large elements, eg amotor 2 or bags 3 or boxes 4 with toy building elements. Furthermore,one or more construction manuals are present, shown e.g. in the form ofa booklet, but it could also be a CD-ROM.

According to the invention the bags 3 and/or the boxes 4 or the like areprovided with a clear indication, e.g. with letters A-E and/ordepictions that clearly identify the corresponding model portions,optionally model sections in correspondence with the constructionmanual.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of packaging toy building elements forthe construction of a toy model, said method comprising the steps of:packaging a first plurality of building elements into a first packagingset with at least two of said building elements of said first pluralitydiscrete from each other, said building elements of said first pluralitycapable of interconnecting with one another to form at least a firstspecific model section; packaging a second plurality of buildingelements into a second packaging set with a least two of said buildingelements of said second plurality discrete from each other, saidbuilding elements of said second plurality capable of interconnectingwith one another to form at least a second specific model section;arranging a plurality of packaging sets, including at least said firstand second packaging sets in a toy building set; and providing aconstruction explanation wit said toy building set, said constructionexplanation identifying said first model section as beinginterconnectable with said second model section, such thatinterconnecting a plurality of model sections, including at least saidfirst and second model sections, constructs said toy model.
 2. Themethod in accordance with claim 1 wherein said construction explanationidentifies said model section interconnection by a visual order.
 3. Themethod in accordance with claim 1 wherein said construction explanationidentifies said model section interconnection by a sequential order. 4.The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said constructionexplanation includes a construction manual.
 5. The method in accordancewith claim 1 wherein said construction explanation further includes aconstruction manual particular to each packaging set of said pluralityof packaging sets.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 1 whereinpackaging sets of said plurality of packaging sets are contained in bagssuch that said packaging sets of said plurality of packaging sets areseparate from each other.
 7. The method in accordance with claim 1,wherein said packaging sets of said plurality of packaging sets arecontained in boxes such that said packaging sets of said plurality ofpackaging sets are separate from each other.